PRIME SCREEN REVISED WITH DISTRESS

Administration and Scoring

 12 items to assess positive symptoms

 Modified to measure distress associated with each symptom

 Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale

 0 (definitely disagree) to 6 (definitely agree)

Introducing the screen to respondents:

• Explain that usually questionnaires ask about different kinds of experiences like mood
and anxiety, this one asks about things that can cause worry or stress

• Explain that if you experience some of these things, further evaluation of those
experiences might be helpful for you and your treatment

Administration:

• Respondents should be asked to complete the questionnaire in a private, confidential

space

• Read the directions to each respondent

• Offer to read the questions aloud if the respondent has difficulties reading or responding
independently

• Provide simple explanations or synonyms as needed

• Avoid elaboration and in-depth discussion of items

Scoring:

• Review responses privately

• To score, consider only the primary questions

• Part 1 of each item that asks about specific symptoms

• Do not count the distress ratings

• Count the number of items endorsed at a level of 5 (“somewhat agree”) or 6 (“definitely

agree”)

Easy Scoring

Upon completion of the NOMs through Qualtrics, you will receive an Email with the survey
answers, including the PRIME responses. You can access the responses in both the body of the
Email and through a link provided at the beginning of the message. You will then use the
responses of the PRIME to score clients, determining if they have screened positively or
negatively.

A positive screen means the client is at clinical high risk for psychosis and they should be
referred for further evaluation/services specific to psychosis if they are not already.

Positive Screen:

 1 or more items scored at a “6”

OR

 2 or more items scored at a “5”

A negative screen means that at this time, the client is not considered at clinical high risk for
psychosis.
 Questions/Symptoms
Unusual Thought Content (items 1-6)

 I think that I have felt that there are odd or unusual things going on that I can’t explain

 I think that I might be able to predict the future

 I may have felt that there could possibly be something interrupting or controlling my
thoughts, feelings, or actions

 I have had the experience of doing something differently because of my superstitions

 I think that I may get confused at times whether something I experience or perceive may
be real or may be just part of my imagination or dreams

 I have thought that it might be possible that other people can read my mind, or that I
can read other’s minds

Suspiciousness (item 7)

 I wonder if people may be planning to hurt me or even may be about to hurt me

Grandiosity (item 8)

 I believe that I have special natural or supernatural gifts beyond my talents and natural
strengths

Hallucinations/Perceptual Abnormalities (items 9-11)

 I think I might feel like my mind is “playing tricks” on me

 I have had the experience of hearing faint or clear sounds of people or a person
mumbling or talking when there is no one near me

 I think that I may hear my own thoughts being said out loud

Item 12

 I have been concerned that I might be “going crazy”